Colback living the dream

http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport...he-s-pulling-on-his-own-no14-jersey-1-6787002

FEW players have crossed the Tyne-Wear divide over the past two decades.

It’s not a big move in terms of distance, but in every other way transfers between Newcastle United and Sunderland are a kind of a big deal, not least for the players themselves.

However, Jack Colback, set to make his competitive debut against Manchester City at St James’s Park on Sunday, is a little different to his predecessors.

The 24-year-old, signed on a free transfer after the expiry of his contract, grew up on Tyneside supporting Newcastle before joining Sunderland’s Academy, where he prospered and eventually graduated to the first team.

The rest, including a goal in last season’s Tyne-Wear derby, is history. Somewhere in the Colback household, there will be the old black and white tops he wore as a youngster, complete with the names of his heroes on the back.

Now the Killingworth-born player has his own name on the back of a United jersey, and he will pull on the iconic shirt for the first time as a player against City.

“My first memories of football were watching Newcastle,” Colback told the Gazette.

“I had all the strips, and I was buzzing when the new strips came out. I would get the name of my favourite players on the back.

“I supported them as a boy, but I had the opportunity to play for a professional team. Just because that was across the water, only 15 miles away, I couldn’t let that opportunity slip.

“It was a chance to go to a Premier League team as a young lad.

“It put me in the position I’m in now of being able to play Premier League football.

“My family, who are also Newcastle supporters, were never going to say ‘don’t do that’, because that was the opportunity on the table, and I had to take it.”

Colback took the opportunity with both hands.

And United manager Pardew is confident that Colback, a quietly-effective holding midfielder who is also capable of pushing on and making an impact in the final third of the pitch, will seize the chance of a lifetime at St James’s Park.

Colback, level-headed and unassuming off the pitch, has quietly gone about his business on the field in pre-season.

The former England Under-20 international, given set-piece duties in pre-season, has been neat and tidy in possession front of Pardew’s back four, and he’s been energetic without the ball.

Colback, certainly, would brought something to the club’s midfield in the wake of Yohan Cabaye’s January sale last term when Newcastle were all too often listless and lifeless.

And he seems certain to start against City in the absence of injured midfielder Cheik Tiote.

For his part, Colback feels, in joining his boyhood club, he has made the right career move, believing he can improve as a player while improving the team he has joined.

“I think I’ve got a lot to improve on as a player,” said Colback, who is hopeful United can challenge for a European place over the coming nine months.

“I can show the Newcastle fans that I’m good enough to be here.

“Hopefully, I’ll have a good season and good career as a Newcastle player.”

 

I think he is better than many give him credit for. I think he'll be a solid squad member and a step up on Gosling. I still rate Anita as our best option for that role.

 

Great squad addition. He's also one of us.

 

I've got to nick this like...

 

instead of WAlter White.. it could be Ginger Jack.

 

he's still got a way to go to live down that "SHUSHHH" though

and the story of him trying to wangle out of the NUFC deal to go to West Ham...

 

Ginger clogger. An upgrade from Gosling certaintly but that doesn't really mean that much. Will be in the team now no matter how **** he performs and will rapidly become the new Jonas in Pards eyes. Mark my words on that.

 

I heard it was more Ashley being a twat and trying to make a quick £5m on an instant sale.

 

Just look at the way he celebrated his goal at SJP. A little ****bag. Still, he has plenty of company where he is now.

 

reckon there may be a bit more too him in a black and white shirt than the other one.......50 odd thousand every other week might just make the lad!! Give him a chance he had the peanuts to sign up to this mad house, lets back him 100% regardless of where he's been!!

 

Thought he was underrated whilst he was at Sunderland. I personally think he is a very tidy footballer, gets on with his job quietly and whilst unlikely to be somebody who will make us stand on our feet he will not let us down either. He seems to be one of those players who whilst not the most technically gifted, gets everything out of his talent through attitude and work ethic. He's infinitely better than Gosling and has more than likely jumped Anita in the pecking order.